Macro

Have the Ambanis have run out of weddings that they want to create a spectacle out of everyone’s birthday in their family now? What a waste of a family. Like money couldn’t even buy them a few close friends that they need to resort to entire Bollywood showing up in Jamnagar to celebrate their grown ass man’s bday party.

An ex colleague of mine that I also managed for a while made the jump to my new company. She and I were catching up today and she told me about how the new boss tried to sexually assault her at a offsite and how this opportunity was a godsend to her to get out of that shitty team. I am shook right now because this was the person she transitioned to after I left the team and I used to have very high regard for this guy. Just gutted for her that she had to go through it and extremely angry and disappointed at this guy. To think he is married and with kids. Ugh.

How does one not feel disgusted about a country whose president is openly saying “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again”. This is just embarrassing and dangerous vitriol – spare me the nuances but the majority of this country voted for a such a lunatic is telling. Every day gets worse and worse doesn’t it. Gosh I miss my break already.

One of my closest friend’s younger brother passed away suddenly over weekend due to cardiac arrest. I got the msg yesterday while in plane and finally was able to connect with him. They lost their mother just 2 years ago – his younger brother was unmarried and was battling a muscular disease though it was not considered lethal. We reminisced a lot about our younger days. I spent practically several hours in their house each evening during 3rd and 4th year of my engineering years. I broke up fights between the brothers multiple times with me and their mom taking same sides usually – it’s hard to act that he is no more even though I never kept touch with him after engineering days. To see my friend going through double tragedy in quick succession makes me sad and just reaffirms that life is just very unpredictable.

Americans who travel abroad are rarely MAGA I feel. As has been the case, Americans abroad are some of the most friendliest and chattiest people you can meet on travel. It was no different this time either in Peru. They always have the best tips and information and they are so always ready to share.

Man it felt so amazing not having to read anything happening in this country and what it’s loony leaders and half its cult are doing. My friend said it best when we were boarding our last flight to dc this morning – “ghinn aati iss desh se”. After very stressful weeks at work, and never ending news about things falling apart it was a much needed relief and break for all of us.

The one vegetarian restaurant that everyone who has been to Cusco recommended to us highly turned out to be the disappointment of the trip. The food was mid but the service was horrendous – and then the server had the nerve to ask us for a tip! He didn’t pay attention to our orders, messed them up, brought food to us before appetizers and drinks – overall was a mess while the other folks struggled to maintain order. Then shows up at end again after everything and says if we wanted to add a tip. We simply said no and paid and left. The way he stormed off our table on saying no was enough for us to justify our decision. So yeah when in Cusco avoid green point vegetarian restaurant!

Cusco looks gorgeous from up above but my god the city is horribly dirty, trash every fucking where and stinks of trash almost everywhere. Glad we got out immediately and will come back to stay only one night later but ugh. I am sure the “nicer” touristy areas are not like that though.

The dunes at Huacachina were absolutely stunning, with many of the dunes towering at 500 meters. Yes meters, not feet. These were absolutely massive and gave you a feeling of being in such a desolate far away land. The sunset from top of one such dune was spectacular. Needless to say way too many Dune references were made.